Metal slide rule



Dec. 9, 1958 R. c. P`|cKETT METAL SLIDE RULE Filed Jan. 5o, 195e A @wwwATTURNEYS.

United States Patent O METAL -SLIDE RULE Roswell C. Pickett, Alhambra,Calif., assignor to Susan Ann Pickett, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,142

6 Claims. (Cl. 23S-70) This invention relates to a slide rule,preferably made of metal which is simple in construction and can be madewith extreme accuracy yet manufactured economically.

One object of the invention is to provide a slide rule of sheet metalconstruction having such characteristics that it permits ready, accurateformation and accuracy of operation.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which there is a sliderbase that is slidable relative to the body of the slide rule and onwhich the slider is oatingly mounted so as to avoid binding and permitself adjusting of the slider to the guide edges of the body of the ruleas the slider base and thereby the slider are manipulated.

Still another object is to provide the body of the rule with connectingend members formed integral therewith and folded over for reinforcementand to provide clearance for the slider, and at the same time hold thescales along opposite sides of the body member in accurate alignmentwith each other.

A further object is to provide modified forms of the body member whicheliminate the connecting'members at its ends and provide a single sheetof metal across the back of the slider base having its side edges foldedinwardly to form guides for the slider and the slider base, and faces onwhich the body scales may be printed.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of myslide rule, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a slide rule embodying my presentinvention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views on the lines 2-2 and 3 3respectively thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one end of the slide rule;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a layout view of one end of the body before it is bent toshape;

Fig. 7 shows a modification in the construction with respect to theslider and the slider base and their manner of connection together so asto permit the slider to oat relative to the base;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to one end of Fig. l showing amodified construction;

Fig. 9 is a similar perspective View of another slide rule showing asimilar modified construction; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line lll-10 of Fig. 9.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character B toindicate in general the body of my slide rule, S the slider thereof andC the cursor thereof. The body B is provided with upper and lower bodyfaces 12 and 14 on which the body scales are printed. The body B isformed of sheet metal in the initial shape shown in Fig. 6 whereindotted lines indicate bend lines for the sheet metal and it will benoted that portions 16 form lateral extensions of the body faces 12 and14 and when Patented Dec. 9, 1958 Connecting end portions 18 are bent`over at the bend lines indicated at 18a in Fig. 6 to offset theseconnecting members in a different plane relative to the body faces 12and 14 so that-the slider S in the same plane as the body face membersmay slide under the connecting end connectors 18. Where the thickness ofthe metal for the slider S is the same as that used in the body B theportion of the end member 18 over the slider may be olfset slightly asshown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The slider base 20 is a rectangular strip of sheet metal having a pairof holes 22 adjacent the ends thereof and the slider S has tongues 24that loosely t in these holes and are bent under the slider base toretain the slider on thebase as shown in Fig. 5. A loose fit between the-holes 22 and tongues 24 permits floating of the slider on the base sothat the base can slide in the backstrips 16 and the slider can slideindependently thereof between the body faces 12 and 14 without anybinding action. At the same time, slide rule manipulation involving theslider is possible by manual movement of the slider base. As shown inFig. 7, the slider base 20a may be shortened and provided at each endwith a notch 22a instead of a hole 22 for the loose reception of thetongue 24 of the slider S.

The cursor C may be `formed of transparent plastic material consistingof a cursor body 26, and top and bottom cursor guides 28 and 30 in theform of the marginal ends of the body 26 being bent to tit around thebody faces 12 and 14 and the backstrips 16 with some lateral play asillustrated in Fig. 2 to receive a cursor spring 32. This spring servesto hold the cursor guide 30 against the lower edge of the body B andthus retain the cursor C and the hairline 34 thereof at right anglesthereto.

If desired, the end connectors 18 may be omitted and a body B providedas shown in Fig. 8 which is a rectangular piece of sheet metal passingcompletely under the slider base 20 and having its marginal edges bentover to provide the body faces 38 and 40. A similar construction isshown in Figs. 9 and l0. In Fig. 8 the body back 36 is provided with achannel 42 to reinforce the body and provide clearance for the bent-overends of the tongues 24 of the slider base 20a. Fig. l0 illustrates awider rule for additional scales as 9 or 10 may be provided all on oneside of the rule. In this instance two channels 44 and 46 are shown andthe tongues 24 in the notches 22a may be provided in pairs at the endsof the slider.

The foregoing disclosure is of a construction that is particularlyadapted for sheet metal fabrication of an inexpensive slide rule.Accordingly a slide rule of this character may be manufactured at lesscost and meet the needs of secondary schools and similar markets. Beingmade of metal the slide rule will not warp and is so constructed as tobe dimensionally stable and always accurate. The construction shown inFigs. 1 to 6 is suitable for small rules of 6 inch length whereas thoseshown in Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are suitable for 10 inch rules and largerones.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my slide rule without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claimsany modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which mayreasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair ofspaced body faces, spaced-apart guide channels along the top and bottomof said faces and marginal end members constituting the only means forconnecting said channels together, a slider base comprising a strip ofsheet metal having its marginal edges Vs lidably in saidIguidechannelsLa slider comprising a ylloating relationshiptherewithsand for propulsion of said slider by manipulating said ,sliderbase, said means comprising tongues at the ends of said slider, saidslider base having openings to loosely receive said tongues and saidtongues being projected there-through and bent over to retain saidslider on said slider base.

2. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide ap pair ofspaced body faces, guide channels along the topA and bottom of the vbodyand end membersrconnecting said channels together, a slider basecomprising a single strip of sheet metal having its marginal edgesslidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a single strip ofsheet metal slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edgetherewith whereby scales on said body faces may coac't with scales onsaid slider, and means to loosely but permanently connect said slider tosaid slider base for floating relationship therewith and for propulsionof the sliderby manipulating the slider base.

3. In a slide rule, a body having a'pair of spaced-apart body faces andguide channels along the top and bottom of the body, the ends of saidguide channels being connected by an integral end member which is foldedover on top of lsaid body faces to thus assume an elevated yplane toaccommodate a slider, a slider base comprising a strip having itsmarginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising astrip slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edgetherewith e whereby scales on said body faces may coact with scales onsaid slider, and means to loosely connect said slider to said sliderbase for floating -relationship therewith and for propulsion of theslide by manipulating the slider base, said means comprising tongues ofsaid slider, said slider base having means to loosely receive saidtongues and said tongues being projected therethrough and bent over topermanently retain said slider on saidvslider base.

4. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair ofspaced body faces and guide channels along the top and bottom of thebody, the ends of said guide channels being connected by lan integralend member which is folded over on top of said body faces to thus assumean elevated plane to accommodate a slider, a slider base comprising astrip of sheet metal having its marginal edges slidable in said guidechannels and under said end members, a slider comprising a strip ofsheet metal slidable between said body faces in edge to edge relationtherewith, and means to loosely connect said slider to said slider basefor floating relationship therewith.

5. In a slide rule, a body of sheet metal comprising a rectangular sheetforming a back and a pair of returnbent body faces whereby guidechannels are provided between said back and said body faces, a sliderbase comprising a strip of sheet metal having its marginal edgesslidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a strip of sheetmetal slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edgetherewith whereby scales on said body faces may coact-'with scales onsaid slider, means to loosely connect said slider to said slider basefor oating relationship therewith, said means comprising tongues of saidslider entering openings of said slider base, said tongues beingprojected `therethrough and bent over to retain said slider on saidslider base, and a channel formed in said back longitudinally thereof toreceive and clear -the bent-over portions Aof saidftongues as saidslider and slider ybase are moved relative to said body.

6. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair ofspaced body faces and guide channels along the top and bottom of thebody, said body comprising a rectangular sheet of metal forming a backand a pair of return-bent Vbody faceswhereby guide channels are providedbetween said back and said body faces, a slider base comprising a striphaving its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slidercomprising a strip slidable `between said body faces and coacting edgeto edge there with, tongues on said slider to loosely connect it to saidslider base for floating relationship therewith, said tongues extendingthrough perforations of said slider base and Lbeing bent over to retainsaid slider against dislodgement from said slider base when it `iswithdrawn from -said guide channels, and a channel formed in said backlongitudinally thereof to reinforce said back and to receive and clearsaid bent-over portions of said tongues as said slider and slider baseare moved relative to said body.

References Cited in the `file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS`982,876 Richardson 1.-- Jan. 31, 1911 1,021,484 Richardson Mar. 26,1912 1,260,454 Richardson Mar. 26, 1918 1,892,012 Seehase Dec. 27, 1932FOREIGN PATENTS 129,600 Great Britain `Iuly 17, 1919

